SALT LAKE CITY – A scorching Central Washington sank 16 3-point field goals Friday and defeated MSU Denver 95-76 in women's college basketball.
 
The 16 triples were the most ever against MSU Denver, breaking the previous record of 15 made by Adams State on Feb. 21, 2015.
 
"We ran into a red-hot team, and more specifically a red-hot player in Valerie Huerta," MDU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "As a team, Central shot the 3 about as well as I have seen in a long time in the first half."
 
Central Washington made 12 of 21 from distance in the first half, including 8 of 10 in a 33-point second quarter to take a 56-46 halftime lead. Huerta made six of her seven 3s while erupting for 37 points. For the game the Wildcats were 16 of 33 from deep.
 
Kendra Parra scored 23 points to lead MSU Denver, while Mariana Silva Pereira scored a career-high 12 while making 6 of 9 from the field. Miza Gilberto added 11.
 
"While we did well offensively, scoring 76 and getting 40 in the paint, but we could not keep up the scoring pace with Central," Haave said. "Mariana returned to form by getting to the rim and shooting 6 for 9, which was a bright spot for us.
 
"We also cut down on our turnovers, with 10, which was another bright spot. We just need to be more consistent in executing on both ends of the floor."
 
Central Washington improved to 3-0, while MSU Denver dropped to 0-3 while playing some of the top teams from both the Lone Star and Great Northwest Athletic Conferences to start the season.
 
The Roadrunners face Northwest Nazarene (Idaho), another top GNAC team, Saturday at 3 p.m. in Salt Lake City.